1. CREATE A BALANCE
For this windowless, master en-suite on the lower ground floor, the owners were very open to dramatic color. 'They didn’t take much convincing to embrace Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal in a bold way,' Sarah says. 'It’s a fantastically rich color with impressive depth.'
2. PICK AGED BRASS FITTINGS
Sarah was keen to find ways to bring touchs of light to these small bathroom ideas, using materials that provided just the right gleam. 'The unlacquered brass finish on all the metal elements brings a similar warmth and will naturally age with time, which is a great way to add character,' she says.
3. USE COLOR SEEN ELSEWHERE IN THE HOME
As with any walk-in shower ideas, this area needed tiling, and was a chance to offer some relief to the purple seen elsewhere. 'The shower tiles are a rich but muted green, which sits virtually opposite aubergine on the colour wheel, making it the perfect accent color,' Sarah says.
4. OPT FOR WARM LIGHTING
Bathroom lighting ideas truly make all the difference, particularly when using bold colors. 'We always opt for warm lighting – 2700k minimum – in bathrooms,' Sarah says. 'Nobody needs cold, harsh lighting in a space filled with cold, hard materials.' With no natural light, getting the lighting design right was even more essential in this space. 'And so we installed multiple circuits to allow different lighting scenes through the day,' Sarah adds. 'We always avoid too many spotlights, as they have a harsher quality, whereas the wall lights here really bring the Brinjal to life, making it even warmer and richer.'
5. KEEP THE PALETTE FUSS-FREE
Finally, Sarah advises that you try to keep things relatively fuss free when using strong colors. 'A refined palette with minimal color changes means the eye is not drawn into many directions,' she says. 'For example, we often use the same finish on the walls and ceilings, as well as skirtings, architraves and doors. The simplicity of palette creates a more calming overall aesthetic.' A useful adage to remember when considering small bathroom color ideas.